Ahead of the 2019 Grammys, it was revealed Jennifer Lopez was taped as a performer for a Motown tribute, which ruffled a lot of feathers.
Minutes before Sunday’s award ceremony (Feb. 10) Variety caught up with Motown and music icon Smokey Robinson and asked him about the backlash over J.Lo’s upcoming performance.
“I don’t think anyone who’s intelligent is upset,” the 78-year-old entertainer said, “I think anyone who’s upset is stupid.”
When queried about why Lopez was the right fit the performance, Robinson said simply Motown’s music is universal.
“Hey man, Motown was music for everybody. Everybody! You know what I mean? So that just says Jennifer Lopez, growing up in her Hispanic neighborhood, wherever she was, loved Motown. How can we beat that? Who’s stupid enough to protest Jennifer Lopez doing something for Motown?”
Moments after the performance and emotional Lopez reflected on Motown’s hits and said Berry Gordy was thrilled of her participation.
"Any type of music can inspire any type of artist… You can't tell people what to love. You can't tell people what they can and can't do — what they should sing or not sing." An emotional Jennifer Lopez responds to her critics backstage after her #GRAMMYs Motown tribute. pic.twitter.com/1dK3OEs9OH
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) February 11, 2019
Despite Robinson’s defense of Lopez, many took to Twitter after the performance and offered a scorching critique.
Sorry. I’m not letting that Motown tribute go. It was horrible, the antithesis to everything Motown ever represented. It was a Black— people and culture— label that promoted Black talent— people and culture— with class and dignity AND SOUL!!!! #grammys
— Demetria L. Lucas (@demetriallucas) February 11, 2019
Lalah Hathaway’s whole body and self was sitting in the audience during a soulless Motown tribute. All that good talent and soul sitting right there untapped. Why? WHYYYYYYYYY?? #grammys
— Demetria L. Lucas (@demetriallucas) February 11, 2019
Whoever thought it would be a good idea to have J-Lo represent #motown… pic.twitter.com/eAGOhQUpPt
— Wanda Woman⭐️ (@rocitydubya) February 11, 2019
In 1959, Berry Gordy founded Motown Records which housed some of music’s biggest talents including Diana Ross, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Isley Brothers and more.
